Find out fair information, schedule, etc.in the Fair Section. Following are feature articles from the latest issue of The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener...

30 Years of Common GroundOne way or another, whenever September rolls around, I find myself at the Fair. Although I’ve never served as Fair Director or been on the Fair Steering Committee, I have had the privilege of participating in a number of different ways, and the good fortune of never missing a Fair. I’ve also been keeping a journal these past 30 years. Recently I took a trip through the dust on the living room shelf to reminisce. read more...

Another Way to Build CSAsConsumers don’t have to wait for a farmer to start a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm; instead, they can organize themselves into a group and then find a farmer or farmers to grow food for them. In the June-August 2006 issue of The MOF&G, we featured efforts of MOFGA and the Maine Council of Churches to start new CSA farms through congregations. The Farm Direct Co-op based in Marblehead, Mass., offers another model. read more...

Growing “Housetrees” from seedIt all started with an avocado, most likely, or maybe a lemon, a grapefruit or a pomegranate. We grew a few of each of these easy-to-start plants for fun and managed to mature some into healthy and appealing little trees. read more...

Raw Milk Makes a Comeback in MaineKen Ayers, herbal nutritional educator at John Edwards Market in Ellsworth, reports that raw milk has been a huge seller since they’ve been carrying it. They can never order enough to meet demand. "We’ve got people going out of here with six or seven half-gallons of it," he says. read more...

Low-Impact Forestry and MOFGAIn the 1990s, a group of landowners, foresters and loggers sought a healthier alternative to industrial and mining forestry. This “Low-Impact Forestry” group recognized that negative impacts of logging can be minimized so that the remaining forest resembles a natural forest. This alternative starts with the forest as ecosystem and seeks to manage for long-term benefits, not for one cut. read more...

The History of MOFGA and the Common Ground FairThis year MOFGA celebrates its 35th anniversary, and the Common Ground Country Fair is 30 years old. A first Fair that was supposed to attract 2,000 and help pay the bills for a few more months but ended up with 10,000 participants, a dedicated and hardworking staff, and, most amazingly and wonderfully, thousands of joyful volunteers. Here are some highlights from our three-plus decades. read more...

Tips for Livestock CareHighlights from the New England Sustainable Livestock Conference in Vermont and MOFGA’s Livestock Health workshop featuring Hue Karreman, a holistic veterinarian from Pennsylvania, and Jim and Nancy Gardiner, dairy farmers from Otselic, New York. read more...

Basics of Organic Soil FertilityHow well a plant grows is most often based on the availability of these other nutrients, because carbon dioxide and water are usually plentiful. This is where soil comes into the picture. read more...